Brainstorming Activity:
Creating Suspense in your Writing (Skills/10 points)
Directions:
Final Writing Task: Create a short story of at least 4 well crafted paragraphs (at least 20
sentences) that builds a feeling of suspense in your reader.
● For today, complete this brainstorming sheet to help you build an effective
Suspenseful Tale.
1. Open your Suspense Mission Board notes.
2. Use as many of the suspense building techniques from the Suspense Pear Deck.
3. Below answer how you might create each of the techniques in your story.
First, discuss with a brainstorming partner or group your ideas for a suspenseful story.
What is the primary setting of your story? __________________________________________
Who is the protagonist? _________________________________________________
What/Who is the antagonist that the protagonist is struggling with? ______________________
What is the main conflict? _____________________________________________
Who (if any) are the minor characters? ___________________________________________
Describe below how you will use each of the suspense building techniques:
● Fear of the Unknown: In the space below, what were the “unknown” factors in your story
that caused you fear?
● Set up a question and then delay the answer: What is a big question that you need to
answer? Then at what point toward the end of the story, should you answer the question for
your readers?
● Limit the point of view: Tell the story from the perspective of the character. Which character
is telling your story? Is it you or do you want to create a different character?
● Choose the right setting: Use words that create imagery and that set the mood of your
story. What is the setting of your story? How does it add to the feeling of suspense?
● Style and Form: Use a combination of short and long sentences that create a rhythm.
What sentence structures are you going to use in your story?
● Dramatic Irony: Reveal key parts of the plot to the audience but not to the characters.
What small details can you reveal to the audience that creates suspense but does not
reveal the answer to the big question?
● Sensory Details and Word Choice: Use carefully chosen words and sensory details that add
to the mood and feeling of the story. Use your word list resource sheets. Write at least 5
adjectives and/or adverbs that will add to the suspense of your story?